Mag locks and electric strikes.
Electric strikes and magnetic locks are the hardware that lets a reader, keypad, or intercom actually unlock a door. An electric strike replaces the strike plate and works with the existing lockset; a maglock holds the door shut with an electromagnet. Lock Raven installs both, including HES strikes and Securitron maglocks, and chooses per door based on the frame, the door, and code requirements.
Fail-safe and fail-secure
Fail-safe hardware unlocks when power is lost, which matters on exit paths. Fail-secure hardware stays locked, which suits server rooms and storage. Maglocks are fail-safe by nature. Electric strikes come in either.
| Electric strike | Magnetic lock | |
|---|---|---|
| How it holds | Mechanical latch in a powered strike | Electromagnet on the frame |
| Uses existing lockset | Yes | No, works alongside it |
| On power loss | Fail-safe or fail-secure | Releases (fail-safe) |
| Exit requirements | Free egress through the lockset | Needs request-to-exit devices and code compliance |
| Good fit | Most wood and metal doors | Glass doors, gates, double doors |
Related services.
- Card readers and keypads Card readers and keypads replace keys with credentials you can add or switch off instantly: key cards, fobs, PIN codes, or a phone. Learn more
- Video intercoms A video intercom lets staff or residents see who is at the door, talk to them, and release the lock from a phone or a station inside. Learn more
- Panic bars and exit devices A panic bar, or exit device, lets anyone leave a building with a single push while keeping the door locked from outside. Learn more
Before you call: guides.
- Access control · 5 min read Mag lock or electric strike? How to choose. How magnetic locks and electric strikes work, fail-safe versus fail-secure, code considerations, and which suits your door. Read the guide
- Commercial security · 6 min read Access control for small businesses, in plain English. How keycard, fob, and keypad access control works, the hardware involved, fail-safe versus fail-secure, and how to start with one door. Read the guide
Mag locks and electric strikes across Central Maryland.
Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford, Carroll, and Howard counties. All service areas
Mag locks and electric strikes: common questions.
Straight answers, without the upsell.
Which is more secure?
It depends on the door. A strike keeps a mechanical latch engaged, while a maglock has high holding force but releases on power loss. We pick based on the door, the traffic, and code.
Are maglocks allowed on exit doors?
They can be, when installed with the request-to-exit and release devices that life-safety and fire codes require. Requirements vary by building, so we install to the code that applies.
How much will it cost?
It depends on the hardware, the door, and the number of locks, so we price every job before any work starts. Call with the details, or send the quote form, and you will have a price before you commit to anything.
Get a quote.
Tell us about the job and we will reply the same day. For a lockout, call (410) 449-4940.
We accept Cash, all major credit and debit cards, checks, Zelle, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.